Cardington Cracker - 04/12/2011

race report to come...

Training Update - to 03/12/2011

Just three activities to report for the week between the Time Trial and the Cardington Cracker.

The Tuesday night run was an ascent of New Pool Hollow, followed by a run up to Pole Bank and back over Haddon Hill, with a descent by the gully next to the Valleys ridge, which was pretty darn slippery!

7.3 miles, 1,540' of ascent and 1 hour 16 minutes.

On the Thursday I took the morning off and ran a really nice recovery run all around (but not up) the Wrekin. Em had planned this one and it turned out to be a great route on a lovely clear morning.

7.8 miles, 1,200' of climbing and one and a half hours.

Finally on Saturday I felt I needed to turn my legs over so I got out for half an hour on the Tricross and cycled 7.3 miles.

Time Trial - 27/11/2011

Just getting into my running in Ashes Hollow
Photo: John Richards, http://uksportpictures.com 

So after a couple of days of rest I headed over to Stiperstones to pick up Em, and then back over the Burway Road to the start, passing many of the early starters on the way.

With the novelty of computer timing this year I kicked off just before Em and headed up Ashes, using the main valley almost all the way to the top and then trying to pick up the Valleys trod. I missed it and had a heather flounder for a minute or two over to the road. I saw Giz on a much better line on the way up and will use that next year...

Down the grassy path from Wild Moor I was really flying, passing Dawsy coming back...

Unfortunately I ran out of steam a little over the hills between Ratlinghope and Hollies Farm, and had to struggle to catch Phil Blatch on the way up to Shepherd's Rock. Em came storming past me just before the top and I couldn't stay with her on the way down, but I had a good run nonetheless and took 11 minutes off last year's time.

Achilles still slightly sore and weak on the last couple of climbs, but improving!

8.7 miles, 1,970', 01:29.

Time Trial Recce - 24/11/2011

Nice steady run over my normal route with Em.

8.8 miles, 1,910', 01:42 (pleasingly pretty much the same time as last year's race time but much easier and with a couple of stops).

Tuesday Night Run - 22/11/2011

Well I wasn't exactly in the best mental state, and my achilles hurt before and until well into the run, but I had a really energising night out and felt a lot better for it.

Tonight we ran up Ragleth the steep way (some call this the Skyline or Hike descent), then to the post and back. We continued on by way of the track through the woods under Hazler Hill to reach the Hope Bowdler Road. We went up to the Gaer Stone and then on along the ridge of Hope Bowdler Hill before descending and coming back by way of Cwms Farm (new path on me) and the track down which comes out by the Hike starting field.

7.1 miles; 1,450' of ascent; 1hr 41min

FMR Coaching Course - 19-20/11/2012

The second part of the Fell and mountain Running Coaching course... More to follow...

Late Night Yearlet - 17/11/2011

At the summit of Yearlet, just after midnight

Dropped by Stretton after my massage to drop some stuff off for a friend, and left there about 23:30. Got to the crossroads and had one of those "what the heck" moments, so I parked in Carding Mill Valley and went off for a quickie, up Cow Ridge and then across the head of Townbrook to Yearlet, descending via the Green Path and the ramp back into Carding Mill Valley.

3.6 miles; 1,090'; 46 minutes.